HMP Maghaberry was said to have gone backwards since the previous inspection

Brendan McGuigan, chief inspector of criminal justice NI, and Nick Hardwick, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales, at the press conference in Belfast

Northern Ireland's only high security prison has been branded the most dangerous in the UK, with inmates and staff living in fear in Victorian-era conditions.

HMP Maghaberry near Lisburn, Co Antrim, is "a prison in crisis", with "unsafe and unstable" conditions, according to the joint assessment by HM Inspectorate of Prisons and Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJINI).

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales Nick Hardwick, who was commissioned to assist the CJINI inspection team, said it was the most dangerous prison he had ever seen.

He said the prison would struggle to meet UN minimum standards for prisons worldwide and said if the situation was not addressed a major risk of "serious disorder or loss of life" would remain.

"This is one of the worst prisons I've ever seen and the most dangerous prison I've been to," he said.

Mr Hardwick said conditions were akin to those of a Victorian jail.

"It feels a bit like going back in time, Dickens could write about Maghaberry without batting an eyelid," he added.

Maghaberry houses almost 1,000 prisoners, including around 50 with loyalist and republican paramilitary affiliations who are held in separated accommodation.

Dissident republicans have issued death threats against prison staff in recent years and in 2012 long-serving officer David Black was shot dead by dissidents as he drove to work.

Inspectors who carried out May's unannounced visit identified a series of serious failings in the regime that had fostered a volatile atmosphere, with the prison on the verge of a riot.

Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland Brendan McGuigan described the worrying conditions found by the inspection team.

"Maghaberry had become unsafe and unstable and was in a downward spiral that could have led to serious consequences," he said.

"This was in our collective opinion, a prison in crisis."

A month before the inspection, a serious incident had unfolded when a number of prisoners set fire to a storehouse, with smoke filling an adjoining accommodation block where other inmates were locked in cells.

Inspectors said the fire at Erne House almost resulted in fatalities and called for a separate investigation into the event.

In three out of four measuring standards used by inspectors - safety, respect and purposeful activity - Maghaberry was given the lowest ranking possible.

In line with practice, the report and associated recommendations have been published a number of months after the visit - but for the first time ever inspectors felt the need to issue an "urgent action plan" to prison authorities in the immediate wake of the inspection.

In another unprecedented move, inspectors are to return to the prison for a follow-up visit in January. Follow-ups are usually conducted two to three years after inspection.

Inspectors were particularly critical of the management regime within Maghaberry.

Two months after the inspection, the governor Alan Longwell left his post. He was replaced by former governor of HMP Belmarsh in south London, Phil Wragg.

The report's scathing findings include:

:: the prison was unsafe and unstable and there was a significant risk of a serious incident.

:: prisoners and staff felt unsafe, violence levels were rising and serious and credible threats had been made against staff.

:: care of vulnerable prisoners was inadequate, with high levels of suicide and self-harm.

:: efforts to manage separated houses containing paramilitary-linked prisoners were having a disproportionately negative impact on the rest of the prison, with staff and management resources drawn away from the main prison population.

:: nearly all prisoners spent too much time in cells with excessive lock down periods.

:: learning and skills provision was inadequate.

Maghaberry was the subject of a highly critical report in 2009 but a follow-up inspection in 2012 had identified some improvements.

Mr McGuigan said progress had gone backwards.

"In our view, the prison had regressed from the last inspection in 2012 and the collective failures of leadership in the prison had created unacceptable risks, for both the staff and prisoners in their care," he said.

Health and education regulatory bodies, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) and the Education Training Inspectorate (ETA) were also involved in the inspection.

Stormont's Justice Minister David Ford insisted action had already been taken to address the failings.

"The appointment of Phil Wragg as governor, and the refreshed experienced senior leadership team put in place at the prison, has already led to improvements in a number of areas, and this will continue," he said.

NI Prison Service director general Sue McAllister described the report as "disappointing".

"The snapshot taken in May demonstrated that Maghaberry had been greatly affected by staff absence which had a serious impact on the regime and outcomes for prisoners," she said.

"That has been addressed through robust management of attendance while supporting staff, recruitment of new officers and through redeployment from the other prisons."

Ms McAllister also said steps were being taken, some in conjunction with the health authorities, to improve healthcare provision, tackle the drugs problems and address the issues raised about the management of separated prisoners.

She said an independent investigation to the Erne House fire was under way.

Your Comments

COMMENT RULES: Comments that are judged to be defamatory, abusive or in bad taste are not acceptable and contributors who consistently fall below certain criteria will be permanently blacklisted. The moderator will not enter into debate with individual contributors and the moderator’s decision is final. It is Belfast Telegraph policy to close comments on court cases, tribunals and active legal investigations. We may also close comments on articles which are being targeted for abuse. Problems with commenting? customercare@belfasttelegraph.co.uk